Machine for assembling printed gatherings or similar objects



April 1935- R, BARENNES 1,999,953

' MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PRINTED GATHERINGS OR SIMILAR OBJECTS FiledFeb. s, 1933 a Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG 19 so M5 April 1935- v R. BARENNES1,999,953

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING PRINTED GATHERINGS OR SIMILAR OBJECTS Filed Feb.8, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 April 30, 1935. R. BARENNES 1,999,953

MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLIN G PRINTED GATHERINGS OR SIMILAR OBJECTS Filed Feb.8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 entails heavy expense.

Patented Apr. 30, 1935 UNITED ,srarss MACHINE FOR ASSEMBLING- PRINT-EDGATHERINGS 0R SIMILAR OBJECTS Robert'Barenne's, Bordeaux-France m cs-j;

Application February 8, 1933, Serial No. 655,863-

In France llebruary 22, 1932 18 Claims (C 1. 270-J-58Y siderablyrestricted.

The designing of the machine which forms the subject matter of theinvention-has been studied wan-a view to ensuring regular automaticoperation and to occupying as restricted a space as possible; i

features: 1 I 7 1. The gatherings of sheets to'be assembled This machinepresents the following essential,

to the assemblingstations; V

2. The movement of the boxes or baskets in which the gatherings it isdesired to assemble are placed is an intermittent movement;

These two peculiarities differentiate the ma chine which formsthesubject matter'of the invention from similar devices already inexistence in which the gatherings do not-move along the table and inwhich, on the other hand, the move- 'ment of theorgans is continuous andnot inter mittent; I r v 3. Control of theintermittent movement of thebaskets containing'the gatherings is obtained by means of'a single camprovided with a groove, the form of said groove being calculated in sucha manner as to cause the baskets to move forward by a distance equal tothe length of said baskets, then to arrest their movement duringthe'timenecessary for the removal of the gatherings and their conveyance to theassembling stations;

. 4. The gatherings are picked-up from the 5; The above mentionedpicking-up arms are mounted in such a Way as to be capable of picking upthe said gatherings in the baskets what ever the number of saidgatherings may be in-said baskets, that is to say whatever maybe theheight formed by said gatherings; a

'6. The gatherings which are positioned'ihorizontally'in the baskets arebroughtinto a vertical position by the picking-up arms anddrop' v'er ,7

tions tically (and not on the flat) into the assembly s ta- 5 '7. Thegatherings are received in the assen'i blingof which there may be anynumber desired and which may be positioned along one side only or alongboth sidesof the'machine,

In the attacheddrawings a'formpf embodiment of the machinewhichforms-the subject matter of the invention has-been' shown in diagram andonly as an example, a In these drawings:

Figure l is a plan view of the whole of the machine; 7 v a Figure 2 is;avertical cross section to a larger scale through II?I I .of Figure l; 1

Figure 3 represents in elevation and to l a c larger scale, oneoftheunits'or links of the chain which carries the baskets and causestheir dis placement; move around the machine and arethus brought Figure4 isaplan View mounted on'its link; i r

V Figure 5 is a viewer a transverse section pr the basketchain guidingdevice pf one ofthe baskets Figures 6 and 7 are representations injdeta'il,

and 3, On said-drums fland 5 a chain 6, made 1 up ofa suitable numberof'unitsl (Figure 3) is positioned, said units 1 being articulatedone toanother by means of vertical spindles} as showninFigure 3. Chain 6 isguided in its movement on the one hand by drums A and 5, and on. theother hand by rollers 3 carried by the link articulating spindles, saidrollers running in the groove of "U channel irons le'fixed'to framebybrackets'll A basket. forthe conveyance of gatherings is fixed to eachof links 1, said basket being con- L stituted essentially by fourvertical angle irons l2- i3 supportedby bars l t-l5, Said bars aremovable and can be fixed in any desired post, tion in order to adapt thebaskets to the size of the gatherings to be assembled. vEach basket-isclosed, underneath, by; at bottomlS made of aj platejof sheet metal.Said plates lfiarecut out beforehand to suit, the different sizes ofgather:

ings it is intended to assembler Consequently {in a order to prepare themachine forany given work 7 it is sufficient to place correspondingplate l6 and Springs (which have not been shown) tend to return saidangle iron pieces l3 to the closed position. a a a The movement of thebaskets round the machine is obtained in the manner which is about to beexplained.

. e A motor (whichis not shown) causes the continuous rotation of a camI!) provided with an horizontal axis; saidcam is drum shaped (pref-'erably hollow in order to reduce itsweight) and is provided, on itsouter surface, with a groove the form of which has been" designed insuch a 1 way as to procure the intermittent movement desired. 'For thispurpose said groove comprises a helical portion 211 and a portion 2|cylindrical in shape. Each of the'links I of the chain supports 7 aroller 22 turning loose about an. horizontal axis and, the positions ofthe various'rollers 22 is calculated: in such a manner that when ,themachine is functioning-said -rollers successively comeinto, engagementwith groove 20-2I During the period a roller 22 is engaged within part20 of said groove, said roller is driven in the direction of arrow F. Inconsequence-the whole of the chain, that is to say all the baskets 23,moves in. the direction of arrow F.

When, in the course of this motion, roller 22 which is in engagementwith the cam arrives in part 2! of the groove the. forward movement isinterrupted, this stoppage corresponds to the picking up of thegatherings from thebaskets and the dropping of said gatherings onto theassembly stations as will beseen further on.

7 with groove 2| is about to arrive at theiend of At the moment when'theroller in engagement said groove by reason of the rotationof' the camthe next following roller 22 comes into engagement with the otherextremity of the cam groove and the chain is again displaced. v

' This succession of forward movements and stoppages continues aslong'as' cam, Iiiis rotationally actuated. a I

V The dimensions of the cam and the shape of groove 2i1-2l arecalculated in' such away as to obtain movements of travel forwardscorrespond-'- ingto the lengthgoflinks l oithe chain-and stoppagesduring a period corresponding with the time necessary for thewithdrawal. of 1 the gatherings. n The effect ofthe motion -of the chainand baskets,obtained in the manner which has just been set forth, is tobring each one of baskets 23 opposite an assembling station. In the-formof embodiment illustrated as an example there are .four'. of theseassembling stations 24 and they are positioned on one of the sides ofthe machine; butjit would be feasible to m'odiiy the number of saidassembling stations and in case of need to position a certain number oneither side of. the machine without departing from the principle of .theinvention;

Each one of said assembling stations 24 is constituted (refer to Figure2) by a box-intended to receive gatherings C dropping vertically; incommachine.

bination with said box is a comb 25 which is given an up and downmotion, said motion being combined with that of the other parts of theThe mechanism by means of which the machine picks up gatherings C frombaskets 23 to convey them'into assembling stations 24 has yet to bedescribed. p

This mechanism, the details of which are shown in Figures 2, '6 and 7,is essentially constituted by an arm 26 oscillating about a pin 21supported by the frame. At the extremity of this arm opposed to itspoint of articulation are mounted the picking-up device proper, composedof suckers 28 and the device employed for the purposeof causing thegatherings to drop into the assembling stations.

'JEach picking-up arm is preferably provided Withtwosuckers 28 (in orderto obtain a more regular grip on the gathering), said suckers beingconnected by flexible piping 29 to a vacuum pipe 30. A vacuum is set upwithin piping 38 by means of exhausters 3! (in the form ofembodimentillustrated one exhauster' has been provided for each set oftwo picking-up arms). O11 piping 3t, along each arm 25, are mountedcocks actuated by any suitable device, so that a vacuum may be set up inthe suckers at the moment when the picking-up arm comes up against. thegathering which is to be. picked up, and so that this vacuum may bemaintained till the moment when the gathering has been brought aboveassembling station 24; and then suppressed in order to allow thegathering to drop into said station. 7

At the extremity-of the picking-up arm opposed to its oscillation point2-! a device is mounted which serves to guide the gathering towards theassembling station at the moment when it drops. This device, details ofwhich are shown in Figures 2. and 6, isconstituted by a frame 32connected to arm 25 by parts Hand 34. Rollers 35 (made of rubber orfiber for instancerrotate within frame 32 and in turn transmit arotationalmotion to a rubberrollcr 36. rollers 35, by transmission 3'!(a round belt for instance) running on pulleys and receiving itsmotionfrom a pulley 38 made fast *on'the same shaft'as a sprecketwheelwhich is, in turn, ac-

. tuated by chain 39 passing around wheel 40 which is driven bythemotor.

The device illustrated in Figure 7 which supports-suckers 2811s capableof pivoting about the extremity of arm 25 under the action of a rod 4twhich is itself actuated by arm 42 pivoted around axis 43 supported byarm 26.

Ann 42 is terminated at its lower end by a quadrant 44; said quadrant isprovided with teeth and, on either side of said teeth, with smoothportions.

Quadrant 44frestson a cam 45 provided with a recessed channel around thewhole of its pe riphery one part only of said recessed channel beingprovided with teeth 46. So long as quadrant .44 rests on the smooth partof the The rotational motion is transmitted to it has drawn a gatheringconveyssaidgathering outwards and brings it' into frame '32 between-rollers 35 .androller 35..- The gathering-then drops into theassembling station as illustrated in Figure 2Jafter passing overa'small'loose guiding roller 41;

- At -the moment when a' gathering thus drops intoassembling post 24comb 25 is positioned in its high location, in which position itretainsthe gatherings which had dropped previously; The

proper sequence of the'gatheri'ngs in assembling station 24 is thusobtained. Once the gathering has dropped completely'comb' 25 iswithdrawn" so that the gathering 'may'come up-against those which hadbeen previously deposited. By reason 'or" the manner in which hisconstructed'the picking-up arm rests, by'means such' as suckers 28 onthe heap of gatherings C contained in the basket whatever the heightofthis heap may be. i e 'On the other hand-When it is desired to put oneof the picking-up arms out of action it is sufficient to raise crank 48in the direction of arrow ,fl Arm 26 is' thus' made to rest on roller 49andceases to function. 7 s

'The various cams and eccentrics which ac uate the picking-up arms, theexhaustersand -'all'the parts necessary forthe functioning of the machine derive their motion from the driving shaft of the motor by meansof a transmission repre sented in diagram at point 59. r a The operationof the machineis very simple: The gatherings to be assembled aredistributed among the successive baskets 23, each basket of course onlyreceiving gatherings bearing the same signature and the machine is setin motion (in Figure l of the drawings only a few baskets have beenshown for the sake of simplicity but it is deposits a gathering 2,against gathering l previously deposited at the first assembling postwhile the second Dicking-up'arm deposits a l gathering in the secondassembling. station. Operation is continued until the first assemblingstation has received the whole. of the gatherings composing the work.-At this moment said gatherings are removed and thefirst assemlingstation is ready to receive a. fresh series.

At the moment when the baskets arrive oppo site to'the assemblingstations the camdevice. hereinabove mentioned causes the pivoting ofangle irons l3 in order to allow the gatheringto be removed. When thebaskets leave'the assembling station zone the return springs bring angleirons [3 back to their original position of closing. The machine ofcourse comprises as many picking up arms as there are assemblingstations; In the example illustrated there are four of said arms andstations.

What I claim is: l. A machine for assembling signatures in propersequence comprising an endless carrier;

means for holding signatures upon said carrier. in horizontal position,means for removing and tures in vertical position.

changing the relative po'sition of individual signa-' tures andmeans forreceiving said individual sig naturesin verticalposition.--w f: 2.Amachine for assembling signaturesin -proper=seduence comprising anendless carrier, ii

baskets mounted jup'on s aid endless carrierlfor holding. signatures inhorizontal position, means for removingand changing the'zplane ofindivid ualsignatures from said baskets and means for receiving saidindividual signatures in--'vertijcal position I 3.A machine forassembling-signatures; in propenjs'equenc'e comprisin'g an endlesscarrier, adjustable receptaclesfor holding signatures-f of differentsizes in 'horizontal position mounted upon 'saidcarrier, means for'removing individual signatures 'from saidreceptacle and means for refvceiving said individual. signatures in F proper seguenc e .Z e

:A machine 'for assembling signatures in proper sequence; comprising anendless carrier,

means for intermittently operatingsaidendless carrier, said "endlesscarrier-being composed "of a plurality of flatmates links, receptaclesmounted uponsaidlink's for holding signatures, means -fo'r.

removingindividual signatures from said 're'cepta' cle and ineans forreceiving said individual signatures in prQper seQuenceL 5. A machinefor assembling signatures in propersequence comprising an endlesscarrier composed of a plurality of'articulated links, re-

ceptacles mounted upon said links for holding signatures inhorizontalposition, means for removing individual signatures. from vsaidreceptacles and means for receiving said individual signa- 7 6.Amachinefor assembling signatures in proper sequence comprising anendless carrier, a pair of drums about which said endless'carrierrotates, means for intermittently operating said endlesscarrier,*signature receptacles mounted upon said endless carrier andmeans for removing an individual' signature from said receptacles. I

v 7; A machine'forassembling signaturesinprope sequence comprising anendless carrier, a pair of drums about which said endless carrierrotates,

means for holding signatures upon said carrier, means for intermittentlyoperating said carrier 1 and means for removing an individual signaturefrom said means for holding signatures.

8. A machine for assembling signatures in proper sequence comprising anendless carrier composed of articulated links, receptacles mount ed uponsaid links for holding signatures, means for intermittently operatingsaid endless carrier and pneumatic means for'removing signatures fromsaid receptacles.

9. A machine for assembling signatures in proper" sequence comprising anendless carrier composed ofarticulated links, signature holders mountedupon said links andmeans cooperating with said links for giving anintermittent motion to said endless carrier. r

10. A machine for assembling signatures in proper sequence comprising anendless carrier having articulated links, signature holders mounted uponsaid links, a roller mounted upo'neach' link, and. cam means cooperatingwith said roller for giving an intermittent motion to said endlesscarrier.

11. A machine for assembling signatures in proper sequence comprisinganendless carrier. having-articulated links, adjustable signature holdersmounted upon said links, means cooperating with said links for giving anintermittent out of said holders and means for changing the.

motion to'said endless carrier, pneumatic means for removinzsignaturesfrom said holders and means for receiving said signatures inproper-sequenceiromsaid pneumatic means; A

p ""12. A machine for assembling signaturesin proper sequence comprisingan endless carrier having articulated jlinks, signatures holders mountedupon said links, means. for giving an intermittent motion. to saidendless carrier, a pneumatic picker fortaking individual signatures 14.A machine for assembling signatures pr per sequence comprising san,endless carrier composed ofarticulated links, adjustable signatureholders mounted upon saidlinks, said holders having movable '-walls anda removable bottom.

15. A machine for assembling signatures in proper sequence comprising anendless carrier composed of articulated links, adjustable signa-v tureholdersmounted upon said links, said hold- I individual links. ershaving movable side walls and a removable bottom, pneurnaticsmeansforremoving individual signatures from said holders and means for receivingsaid signatures in proper sequence from ,saidpneumatic means; I

* '16. A machine; for assembling signatures, in proper sequencecomprising an endless carrier, signature'holdersmounted upon saidcarrier, means for intermittently operating said carrier, pneumaticmeans for removing individual signatures from said holders and means forrendering said pneumatic means inoperative. 1

- .17, A machine:for assembling signatures in proper sequence comprisingan endless carrier, signature holders mounted upon said carrier, apivoted pneumatic picker adapted to remove in .dividual signatures fromsaid holders and a pivptedarmcooperating with said pivoted picker v forjswingingsaid picker into inoperative position. a V.

18. A machine for assembling signatures in proper sequence comprising anendless carrier,

signature holding means upon said carrier, said :carrier'havingarticulated links, a pair of drums about which said endless carriertravels, guide channels through which said endless carrier is guided andsignature receptacles mounted upon 1 :RQBERT BARENNES.

